Best MLB rookie seasons: How Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga starts in 2024 compare to baseball history

Edward Sutelan

Best MLB rookie seasons: How Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga starts in 2024 compare to baseball history image

The Baseball Writers Association of America won't hand out hardware just one month into the season. But if they did, there's a good chance the National League Rookie of the Year Award would come down to a trio of pitchers.

Cubs southpaw Shota Imanaga, Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Pirates righty Jared Jones are off to blazing starts to the 2024 season. Imanaga has the lowest ERA among all qualified starting pitchers at 1.08. Yamamoto has a sterling 2.79 ERA and is second among rookies with 42 innings. Jones has a 2.63 ERA with a 30.5% strikeout-to-walk rate that leads all rookie starting pitchers.

Yes, it's early in the season, and a handful of rough starts could knock those pitchers off their course. But if these rookies can continue their hot starts, they could land among the best rookie seasons in MLB history.

Which players had the best rookie seasons in baseball? Here's what you need to know.

MORE: Inside Shohei Ohtani's red-hot start to 2024 season

Top rookie seasons for pitchers

Imanaga, Yamamoto and Jones are off to strong starts. But to reach the top-20 for Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement (bWAR), they all have a long way to go.

Imanaga has 2.1 bWAR, Jones sits at 1.3 and Yamamoto is at 0.9. In the history of the integration era, which dates back to 1947, Tigers righty Mark Fidrych, who debuted in 1976, had the highest bWAR among rookie pitchers at 9.6, according to Stathead. He finished second in Cy Young voting.

PlayerTeamSeasonAgeRookie of the Year FinishWARStats
Mark FidrychTigers19762119.62.34 ERA, 31 (29 GS), 250.1 IP, 97 SO
Mark EichhornBlue Jays19862537.31.72 ERA, 69 (0 GS), 157.0 IP, 166 SO
Britt BurnsWhite Sox19802157.02.84 ERA, 34 (32 GS), 238.0 IP, 133 SO
John MontefuscoGiants19752516.82.88 ERA, 35 (34 GS), 243.2 IP, 215 SO
Stan BahnsenYankees19682316.42.05 ERA, 37 (34 GS), 267.1 IP, 162 SO
Harvey HaddixCardinals19532726.43.06 ERA, 36 (33 GS), 253.0 IP, 163 SO
Jerry KoosmanMets19682526.32.08 ERA, 35 (34 GS), 263.2 IP, 178 SO
Gary NolanReds19671936.32.58 ERA, 33 (32 GS), 226.2 IP, 206 SO
José FernándezMarlins20132016.22.19 ERA, 28 (28 GS), 172.2 IP, 187 SO
Brandon WebbDiamondbacks20032436.12.84 ERA, 29 (28 GS), 180.2 IP, 172 SO
Jon MatlackMets19722216.12.32 ERA, 34 (32 GS), 244.0 IP, 169 SO
Michael SorokaBraves20192126.12.68 ERA, 29 (29 GS), 174.2 IP, 142 SO
Tom SeaverMets196722162.76 ERA, 35 (34 GS), 251.0 IP, 170 SO
Gary PetersWhite Sox196326162.33 ERA, 41 (30 GS), 243.0 IP, 189 SO
Doug CorbettTwins19802735.71.98 ERA, 73 (0 GS), 136.1 IP, 89 SO
Dave RozemaTigers19772045.73.09 ERA, 28 (28 GS), 218.1 IP, 92 SO
Herb ScoreIndians19552215.62.85 ERA, 33 (32 GS), 227.1 IP, 245 SO
Dick RadatzRed Sox19622535.52.24 ERA, 62 (0 GS), 124.2 IP, 144 SO
Dwight GoodenMets19841915.52.60 ERA, 31 (31 GS), 218.0 IP, 276 SO
Michael FulmerTigers20162315.43.06 ERA, 26 (26 GS), 159.0 IP, 132 SO
Freddy GarcíaMariners19992225.44.07 ERA, 33 (33 GS), 201.1 IP, 170 SO

No rookie starting pitcher has really been close to Fidrych's bWAR in the integration era. In the 2000s, the closest is Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez, who had 6.2 bWAR in his sensational 2013 season.

Imanaga has 2.1 bWAR in just seven starts. Based on that, he is averaging 0.3 bWAR per start, which would put him on pace for 9.0 bWAR in a season with at least 30 starts. But that also would require him to stay on the same pace, and he would still end up 0.6 bWAR behind Fidrych. Yamamoto and Jones are farther behind, though all three players could reach the top-20 depending on how they perform the rest of the way. 

Top rookie seasons for batters

There's more than just pitchers competing for the Rookie of the Year, even if the pitchers are the frontrunners at the beginning of May.

Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu leads all position player rookies with 1.5 bWAR in 2024, while Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn is second overall and leads all National League position player rookies with 1.4 bWAR. Rookie Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is off to a slower start, with just a 0.3 bWAR, though his advanced stats suggest he's been unlucky to start his career. 

How far do they have to go to have a historically great rookie seasons among batters? Even farther than Imanaga.

Here's a look at the best rookie seasons by bWAR in the integration era, per Stathead.

PlayerTeamSeasonAgeRookie of the Year FinishWARStats
Mike TroutAngels201220110.5639 PA, .326/.399/.564, 30 HR, 49 SB
Dick AllenPhillies19642218.8709 PA, .318/.382/.557, 29 HR, 3 SB
Aaron JudgeYankees20172518.0678 PA, .284/.422/.627, 52 HR, 9 SB
Ichiro SuzukiMariners20012717.7738 PA, .350/.381/.457, 8 HR, 56 SB
Fred LynnRed Sox19752317.4605 PA, .331/.401/.566, 21 HR, 10 SB
Carlton FiskRed Sox19722417.3514 PA, .293/.370/.538, 22 HR, 5 SB
Mike PiazzaDodgers19932417.0602 PA, .318/.370/.561, 35 HR, 3 SB
Tony OlivaTwins19642516.8719 PA, .323/.359/.557, 32 HR, 12 SB
Troy TulowitzkiRockies20072226.8682 PA, .291/.359/.479, 24 HR, 7 SB
Nomar GarciaparraRed Sox19972316.6734 PA, .306/.342/.534, 30 HR, 22 SB
Kenny LoftonIndians19922526.6651 PA, .285/.362/.365, 5 HR, 66 SB
Albert PujolsCardinals20012116.6676 PA, .329/.403/.610, 37 HR, 1 SB
Frank RobinsonReds19562016.5668 PA, .290/.379/.558, 38 HR, 8 SB
Billy GrabarkewitzDodgers197024 6.5640 PA, .289/.399/.454, 17 HR, 19 SB
Tommie AgeeWhite Sox19662316.4689 PA, .273/.326/.447, 22 HR, 44 SB
Jason HeywardBraves20102026.4623 PA, .277/.393/.456, 18 HR, 11 SB
Julio RodríguezMariners20222116.2560 PA, .284/.345/.509, 28 HR, 25 SB
Gunnar HendersonOrioles20232216.2622 PA, .255/.325/.489, 28 HR, 10 SB
Mitchell PageAthletics19772526.1592 PA, .307/.405/.521, 21 HR, 42 SB
Alvin DavisMariners19842315.9678 PA, .284/.391/.497, 27 HR, 5 SB

Trout finished with a sensational 10.5 bWAR, which led the majors in 2012. If not for Miguel Cabrera winning the Triple Crown, it's possible Trout would have won the MVP in his rookie campaign.

Since Trout's season, Aaron Judge's 8.0 bWAR in 2017 is the closest. If Abreu played all 162 games at his current bWAR per game clip, he'd reach 8.1 bWAR. Winn could also find himself among the top-20 rookie hitters at the end of the season based on his tremendous defense. Lee would need to drastically turn things around to post a top-20 rookie season. While he should be better, he would really need to perform at an elite level moving forward to rank in the top-20.

Rookie of the Year winners

The first two Rookies of the Year were given to just one player each year, regardless of league. Jackie Robinson won in 1947 and Al Dark won in 1968.

Here's a look at all the Rookie of the Year winners in MLB history.

Major League Baseball

NameTeamYearPositionWAR
Jackie RobinsonDodgers19471B4.1
Al DarkBraves1948SS4.5

American League

NameTeamYearPositionWAR
Roy SieversBrowns1949OF2.2
Walt DropoRed Sox19501B2.6
Gil McDougaldYankees19513B4.5
Harry ByrdAthletics1952P3.2
Harvey KuennTigers1953SS1.7
Bob GrimYankees1954P1.9
Herb ScoreIndians1955P5.3
Luis AparicioWhite Sox1956SS1.5
Tony KubekYankees1957SS2.5
Albie PearsonSenators1958OF0.8
Bob AllisonSenators1959OF1.4
Ron HansenOrioles1960SS3.9
Don SchwallRed Sox1961P3.5
Tom TreshYankees1962SS4.3
Gary PetersWhite Sox1963P7.0
Tony OlivaTwins1964OF6.8
Curt BlefaryOrioles1965OF3.6
Tommie AgeeWhite Sox1966OF6.4
Rod CarewTwins19672B2.8
Stan BahnsenYankees1968P5.9
Lou PiniellaRoyals1969OF2.1
Thurman MunsonYankees1970C5.5
Chris ChamblissIndians19711B0.5
Carlton FiskRed Sox1972C7.3
Al BumbryOrioles1973OF4.0
Mike HargroveRangers19741B3.3
Fred LynnRed Sox1975OF7.4
Mark FidrychTigers1976P9.6
Eddie MurrayOrioles1977DH3.2
Lou WhitakerTigers19782B3.8
John CastinoTwins19793B2.0
Alfredo GriffinBlue Jays1979SS2.5
Joe CharboneauIndians1980OF2.4
Dave RighettiYankees1981P3.5
Cal Ripken Jr.Orioles1982SS4.7
Ron KittleWhite Sox1983OF1.9
Alvin DavisMariners19841B5.9
Ozzie GuillénWhite Sox1985SS2.3
José CansecoAthletics1986OF3.0
Mark McGwireAthletics19871B5.1
Walt WeissAthletics1988SS2.8
Gregg OlsonOrioles1989P3.3
Sandy AlomarIndians1990C2.4
Chuck KnoblauchTwins19912B2.9
Pat ListachBrewers1992SS4.5
Tim SalmonAngels1993OF5.3
Bob HamelinRoyals1994DH2.6
Marty CordovaTwins1995OF3.3
Derek JeterYankees1996SS3.3
Nomar GarciaparraRed Sox1997SS6.6
Ben GrieveAthletics1998OF2.2
Carlos BeltránRoyals1999OF4.7
Kazuhiro SasakiMariners2000P1.3
Ichiro SuzukiMariners2001OF7.7
Eric HinskeBlue Jays20023B4.0
Ángel BerroaRoyals2003SS2.5
Bobby CrosbyAthletics2004SS3.3
Huston StreetAthletics2005P2.9
Justin VerlanderTigers2006P4.0
Dustin PedroiaRed Sox20072B3.9
Evan LongoriaRays20083B4.8
Andrew BaileyAthletics2009P3.7
Neftalí FelizRangers2010P2.5
Jeremy HellicksonRays2011P4.2
Mike TroutAngels2012OF10.5
Wil MyersRays2013OF2.2
José AbreuWhite Sox20141B5.8
Carlos CorreaAstros2015SS4.8
Michael FulmerTigers2016P5.4
Aaron JudgeYankees2017OF8.0
Shohei OhtaniAngels2018P/DH4.1
Yordan AlvarezAstros2019OF3.7
Kyle LewisMariners2020OF1.6
Randy ArozarenaRays2021OF3.9
Julio RodríguezMariners2022OF6.2
Gunnar HendersonOrioles2023SS6.2

National League

NameTeamYearPositionWAR
Don NewcombeDodgers1949Position5.7
Sam JethroeBraves1950OF3.2
Willie MaysGiants1951OF3.9
Joe BlackDodgers1952P4.1
Jim GilliamDodgers19532B3.9
Wally MoonCardinals1954OF3.0
Bill VirdonCardinals1955OF1.4
Frank RobinsonReds1956OF6.5
Jack SanfordPhillies1957P4.4
Orlando CepedaGiants19581B3.0
Willie McCoveyGiants19591B3.1
Frank HowardDodgers1960OF1.9
Billy WilliamsCubs1961OF1.2
Ken HubbsCubs19622B0.0
Pete RoseReds19632B2.4
Dick AllenPhillies19643B8.8
Jim LefebvreDodgers19652B4.6
Tommy HelmsReds19662B1.3
Tom SeaverMets1967P6.7
Johnny BenchReds1968C5.0
Ted SizemoreDodgers19692B4.2
Carl MortonExpos1970P4.2
Earl WilliamsBraves1971C3.3
Jon MatlackMets1972P6.1
Gary MatthewsGiants1973OF3.4
Bake McBrideCardinals1974OF4.3
John MontefuscoGiants1975P6.4
Butch MetzgerPadres1976P1.4
Pat ZachryReds1976P3.5
Andre DawsonExpos1977OF3.9
Bob HornerBraves19783B2.1
Rick SutcliffeDodgers1979P4.1
Steve HoweDodgers1980P0.4
Fernando ValenzuelaDodgers1981P5.3
Steve SaxDodgers19822B3.3
Darryl StrawberryMets1983OF2.6
Dwight GoodenMets1984P5.7
Vince ColemanCardinals1985OF2.4
Todd WorrellCardinals1986P2.6
Benito SantiagoPadres1987C3.4
Chris SaboReds19883B5.1
Jerome WaltonCubs1989OF1.9
David JusticeBraves1990OF2.9
Jeff BagwellAstros19911B4.8
Eric KarrosDodgers19921B0.4
Mike PiazzaDodgers1993C7.0
Raúl MondesíDodgers1994OF1.8
Hideo NomoDodgers1995P4.1
Todd HollandsworthDodgers1996OF1.1
Scott RolenPhillies19973B4.5
Kerry WoodCubs1998P3.8
Scott WilliamsonReds1999P2.6
Rafael FurcalBraves2000SS4.0
Albert PujolsCardinals20013B6.6
Jason JenningsRockies2002P2.7
Dontrelle WillisMarlins2003P4.4
Jason BayPirates2004OF2.2
Ryan HowardPhillies20051B3.1
Hanley RamírezMarlins2006SS4.9
Ryan BraunBrewers2007OF2.0
Geovany SotoCubs2008C3.3
Chris CoghlanMarlins2009OF1.1
Buster PoseyGiants2010C3.9
Craig KimbrelBraves2011P2.5
Bryce HarperNationals2012OF5.2
José FernándezMarlins2013P6.6
Jacob deGromMets2014P3.5
Kris BryantCubs20153B5.3
Corey SeagerDodgers2016SS5.2
Cody BellingerDodgers20171B3.9
Ronald Acuña Jr.Braves2018OF3.9
Pete AlonsoMets20191B5.5
Devin WilliamsBrewers2020P1.3
Jonathan IndiaReds20212B4.1
Michael Harris IIBraves2022OF5.2
Corbin CarrollDiamondbacks2023OF5.4

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.